GLAAD Report: Record Level of LGBTQ Characters on TV

GLAAD, the world’s largest LGBTQ media advocacy organization, announced the findings of its annual Where We Are on TV report. Where We Are on TV analyzes the overall diversity of primetime scripted series regulars on broadcast networks and assesses the number of LGBTQ characters on cable networks and original scripted streaming series on the services Amazon, Hulu, and Netflix for the 2018-2019 TV season. This marks the 23rd year that GLAAD has tracked the presence of LGBTQ characters on television.

The 2018 Where We Are on TV report found a record-high percentage of LGBTQ series regulars on broadcast television at 8.8% of all series regulars. This is up from last year’s 6.4% (another record-high), and the highest GLAAD has found since the organization expanded to count all broadcast series regulars 14 years ago. The report also found that LGBTQ characters on broadcast television are at gender parity with equal percentages of men and women (49.6%), improving upon the previous year’s numbers for LGBTQ characters, which was 55% men and 44% women. For the first time, there are more LGBTQ people of color (50%) than white LGBTQ people (49%) on broadcast television.

Additional representation that is up this year across all platforms tracked (broadcast, cable, streaming) includes: the total number of bisexual+ people is up to 117 from 93; transgender people is up to 26 from 17; and characters who are HIV-positive are up to seven from two.

“With anti-LGBTQ policies being debated here and abroad, the stories and characters on television are more critical than ever before to build understanding and acceptance of LGBTQ people,” said Sarah Kate Ellis, GLAAD President and CEO. “Not only do stories that explore the rich lives and identities of LGBTQ people move the needle forward culturally, but they pay off in ratings – shows like Will & Grace, Supergirl, Empire, and How To Get Away with Murder all attract millions of viewers weekly and demonstrate that audiences are hungry for new stories and perspectives.”

“An increased focus on the importance of LGBTQ representation in television, and across all content, must be a priority for our entire industry,” said UTA TV agent Lucinda Moorhead. “The content we help shape should reflect the diverse and evolving world we live in, and as creators and those who represent them, we have a special obligation to champion that mission.”

During the event, GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis affirmed the importance of LGBTQ images on television in today’s cultural climate and challenge the industry to reach 10 percent LGBTQ inclusion among broadcast series regular characters on primetime scripted series by 2020.

“This year’s Where We Are on TV report has shown important progress towards a media landscape that is LGBTQ-inclusive and portrays the community in a fair and accurate way,” said Megan Townsend, Director of Entertainment Research and Analysis at GLAAD. “This year we noted two history-making television moments: the premiere of FX’s Pose, which features the largest number of transgender series regular characters on a scripted U.S. series ever, and this fall The CW’s Supergirl introduced audiences to TV’s first transgender superhero when Nicole Maines made her debut as Dreamer/Nia Nal. This is all part of a welcome increase in television telling groundbreaking stories featuring characters whose identities have long been left off screen.”

Additional findings include:

The report found record-high percentage of Black (up to 22% from 18%), Latinx (held steady at 8%, tying last year’s record), and API series regular characters (up to 8% from 7%) across broadcast television.

Of the 857 regular characters expected to appear on broadcast scripted primetime programming this season, 75 were identified as LGBTQ. There were an additional 38 recurring LGBTQ characters.

Netflix counted the highest number of LGBTQ characters across streaming services and FX counted the highest number of LGBTQ characters across cable networks.

The number of regular LGBTQ characters counted on scripted primetime cable increased to 120 and recurring characters increased to 88, for a total of 208 LGBTQ characters on cable. This is up from 173 in the previous report.

There were 75 LGBTQ regular characters counted on original scripted series on the streaming services Amazon, Hulu, and Netflix as well as 37 recurring characters. These 112 LGBTQ characters represent a significant increase from the 65 LGBTQ characters counted on streaming last year.

For the 2018-2019 season, there will also be a record-high number of series regulars who are people with disabilities – up to 2.1% from 1.8% the previous year. This is a total of 18 characters.

More LGBTQ characters are in leading roles than ever before with shows like The Red Line, Charmed, Vida, Tales of the City, and more putting LGBTQ characters front and center.

All platforms tracked – broadcast, cable, and streaming – posted significant improvement in racial diversity of LGBTQ regular and recurring characters after the previous report specifically called for change here. Fifty percent of LGBTQ characters on broadcast are people of color, with streaming following (48 percent of LGBTQ characters) and cable rounding out at 46 percent of LGBTQ characters counted as people of color.

Only 43 percent of the regular characters counted on broadcast primetime television are women, the same percentage as last year, and a severe underrepresentation of the U.S. population, which is estimated to be 51% women.

GLAAD uses the data from the Where We Are on TV report in work throughout the year to advocate leaders in the TV industry to include more diverse and substantive LGBTQ representations that accelerate acceptance.

The Golden Girls: 30 Years of Laughter and Lessons

If you know me personally then you know that I am absolutely in love with The Golden Girls. It is true, we have a shrine in our house that is dedicated to them. Today marks the thirtieth anniversary of The Golden Girls, and in honor of the momentous occasion let us revisit a few of the lessons this wonderful show has taught us.

HIV Is Not A Bad Person’s Disease

In the early years of the HIV/AIDS epidemic there were people who openly declared that the virus was God’s punishment of sinful people. From pulpits to politicians, dying people where demonized. In a matter of months, a vibrant and healthy people would deteriorate due to a mysterious disease. Fear of the epidemic lead to sexual shamming, even within the gay community. Remnants of this rhetoric continue to echo throughout conversations today, just ask anyone who openly talks about being on PrEP. The Golden Girls remind us that HIV is simply a virus, not a measure of morality.

H.A.L.T. Before Contempt Arises

With four roommates The Golden Girls had plenty of conflict. In an attempt to avoid saying something nasty, Dorothy touches on an important lesson. Before bringing up a potentially challenging conversation with a loved one, checkin with yourself. If you are Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired then address your own needs first. Doing so will help keep contempt from damaging your relationship. Watch Dorothy’s half-hearted attempt to halt her cutting wit.

Take Charge Of Your Sexual Health

The ladies of Miami serve as a reminder that our sexuality does not end once we hit a certain age. Recently, the grand total of the girls’ sexual conquests was calculated and in seven seasons they got a great deal of booty. 263 booties to be exact. With so much rump-shaking happening, The Golden Girls helped to minimize sexual shame while teaching us that we are in charge of our own sexual health.

The ultimate lesson from The Golden Girls is that aging does not mean ending. We have a finite amount of time on this rock and the characters show us how to squeeze every drop of joy from later life. The women thrive because they cherish their chosen family, take healthy risks and do not allow others’ limited perceptions of aging to define them. After thirty years the series still makes people laugh while teaching us to celebrate aging rather than fearing it.

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You're probably gonna need a martini to recover from the weekend, so grab your friends and join us for #MartiniMonday and some C. B. T. !
Professor CupCake, PhDD is back

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You’re probably gonna need a martini to recover from the weekend, so grab your friends and join us for #MartiniMonday and some C. B. T. !

Professor CupCake, PhDD is back with a new overhead projector to bring you CUPCAKE BAR TRIVIA in The Lounge along with your favorite TA (and Happy Hour bartender) Bobby Cook at Rain on 4th every Monday from 7-9 PM.

There are prizes to be won … and plenty of tricks up her sleeve …… remember class starts at 7 PM SHARP!

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Please join us for our first Lesbians Who Tech & Allies networking event of 2019. Kick off the new year with your Lesbians Who Tech squad!
This venue is accessible to

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Please join us for our first Lesbians Who Tech & Allies networking event of 2019. Kick off the new year with your Lesbians Who Tech squad!

This venue is accessible to wheelchair users with ADA compliant entrance and restrooms. No ID Required. Read our Code of Conduct: Lesbianswhotech.org/code-of-conduct

About Lesbians Who Tech + Allies

Lesbians Who Tech + Allies is the largest LGBTQ technology community in the world — committed to visibility, intersectionality, and changing the face of technology. The 40,000 non-binary, LGBTQ women, queer women of color (and our allies) in tech who make up our community come from every background and live in over 40+ cities worldwide. Over 5,000 women and non-binary people in tech attend our San Francisco Summit, making us the largest professional LGBTQ event in the world and the largest event for women in tech in California. Our programmatic work includes a coding scholarship for non-binary and LGBTQ women called the Edie Windsor Coding Scholarship Fund, a mentoring program, Bring a Lesbian to Work Day, and a leadership program — #LWTSQUAD — focused on supporting our members as they move into senior leadership roles and onto corporate boards. We’re not just creating communities; we’re pushing the tech sector to be more inclusive and changing the face of the entire tech industry.

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Join us on Saturday evening of the 26th of January for our Gala Dinner at the JW Marriott Austin.
The Human Rights Campaign Austin 2018 Gala Dinner, Auction, and Afterparty brings

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Join us on Saturday evening of the 26th of January for our Gala Dinner at the JW Marriott Austin.

The Human Rights Campaign Austin 2018 Gala Dinner, Auction, and Afterparty brings together hundreds of HRC members, partners, friends, family and allies for an evening of celebration and inspiration in Austin, TX. Featuring a cocktail reception, an extensive silent auction, an elegant dinner, live entertainment, and thought-provoking speakers and guests, the event consistently attracts some of the state’s top figures in politics and entertainment.

The evening attire is black tie.

Want to be more involved? You can get more information on sponsorships, tickets, becoming a table captain, volunteering, and the silent auction at www.hrcatx.org

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You're probably gonna need a martini to recover from the weekend, so grab your friends and join us for #MartiniMonday and some C. B. T. !
Professor CupCake, PhDD is back

Details

You’re probably gonna need a martini to recover from the weekend, so grab your friends and join us for #MartiniMonday and some C. B. T. !

Professor CupCake, PhDD is back with a new overhead projector to bring you CUPCAKE BAR TRIVIA in The Lounge along with your favorite TA (and Happy Hour bartender) Bobby Cook at Rain on 4th every Monday from 7-9 PM.

There are prizes to be won … and plenty of tricks up her sleeve …… remember class starts at 7 PM SHARP!